Verizon Wireless Completes Purchase Of 20 PCS Licenses In Six States From ALLTEL

Verizon Wireless Completes Purchase Of 20 PCS Licenses In Six States From ALLTEL

Verizon Wireless Completes Purchase Of 20 PCS Licenses In Six States From ALLTEL

February 20, 2001

BEDMINSTER, NJ

-

Verizon Wireless today announced it has completed the acquisition of 20 PCS licenses in six states from ALLTEL. Financial details were not disclosed.

The company said the purchase of the 10Mhz licenses will expand its licensed footprint -- which currently covers about 90 percent of the U.S. population -- and increase its spectrum capacity to meet the growing demand for wireless voice and data services. The new licenses will grow the Verizon Wireless footprint by some 2 million POPS and increase spectrum in current licensed service areas totaling about 9 million POPS.

Markets covered by the licenses are:

Atlanta, Macon, Gainesville, Athens, and Rome GA; Kansas City, Jefferson City, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, Rolla and Sedalia, MO; Memphis, Chattanooga and Cleveland, TN; Huntsville, Gadsden, Florence, Anniston and Decatur, AL; Lawrence, KS; and Miami, OK.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless is the largest wireless communications provider in the U.S. with 27.5 million wireless voice and data customers. The new coast-to-coast wireless provider was formed by the combination of the U.S. wireless businesses of Bell Atlantic Corp. and GTE Corp -- now Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) -- and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). The new company includes the assets of Bell Atlantic Mobile, AirTouch Cellular, GTE Wireless, PrimeCo Personal Communications and AirTouch Paging. The company has a footprint covering nearly 90 percent of the U.S. population, 49 of the top 50 and 96 of the top 100 U.S. markets. Verizon Wireless, headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, is 38,000 employees strong. Reporters and editors can find more information about the company on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com.